Ramadan and Its Moon
Sharing some thoughts
The crescent moon signaling the lunar month of Ramadan will soon be born.
The moon we designed to appear in stages, until it becomes like an old curved sheath. (Quran 36:39)
I especially love this time of year — this special lunar month. It blesses us with the opportunity to fast. By fasting we grow spiritually… thus growing our true selves, our souls.
As I think of the crescent moon, growing into the full moon and back into a crescent, I see the same pattern in human life. We begin as babies, full of potential, just as a crescent moon has the potential of becoming full. As we grow, we come closer and closer to the fulfillment or “full moon” of our life.
Then age sets in and we begin to lose some of our strength and abilities. We slowly revert back to a more helpless state. Thus we mirror the full moon waning back into a crescent.
This analogy points out to me truly how Merciful our Creator is. God gives us this opportunity to grow spiritually just as a crescent moon grows into its fulfillment as a full moon. However, unlike the moon, each of us must consciously work to grow spiritually. We chose to grow or to remain unfulfilled in this area of our life.
The scales will be set on that day, equitably. Those whose weights are heavy will be the winners. As for those whose weights are light, they will be the ones who lost their souls, as a consequence of disregarding our revelations, unjustly. (Quran 7:8–9)
In my understanding, the growth of the soul provides true happiness in our lives. The closer we grow to God, the happier we become, until we create a taste of paradise on earth for ourselves and, God willing, for those close to us.
Anyone who works righteousness, male or female, while believing, we will surely grant them a happy life in this world, and we will surely pay them their full recompense (on the Day of Judgment) for their righteous works. (Quran 16:97)
I pray that you experience this taste of paradise here and have an even more wonderful experience in the hereafter.
May your Ramadan be very blessed!
